Pergamon Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 20, No. I, p. I, 1998

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EDITORIAL

The editing of a major scientific journal is a big task, and it is all the more so when following in the large footsteps

(at least in one case, metaphorically speaking) of predecessors such as Sue Treagus and Paul Hancock. The goals of the Journal will remain the same as those established by Sue and Paul: to publish high quality research results in structural geology in a timely manner by rigorous, fair reviewing and editing. The Journal’s use of scientifically active editors, while falling out of favor in some places, will continue, and we will strive to maintain the standards of fairness and objectivity which were a hallmark of Sue Treagus’ efforts. It has been a great privilege to serve as an Associate Editor while Sue served as the Chief Editor. I doubt I would have taken on this job without predecessors who have worked so hard to develop and maintain the journal’s quality.

Readers, reviewers, and contributors to the Journal will note some small changes in the coming year. The editorial office in Utah will be managed by Amy Hochberg, our editorial assistant, who will keep things moving smoothly. We will continue to monitor and, whenever possible, improve production standards, an aspect of operations in which Sue Treagus has played an important role. We hope to reduce the time between submission and publication wherever Journal operations are concerned. Once Journal operations and production are running smoothly, we hope to begin to develop ways for non-traditional journal formatted materials to be reviewed, edited and published. These include results of numerical or analog models, or three-dimensional repre- sentations of data, which need to be viewed with a computer interface. We also look forward to publishing results of structural geology research which is part of larger, multi-disciplinary projects. The developments will be discussed in these pages as they emerge.

Some new names will appear on the Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) in the coming months. It is traditional and fitting that former editors serve on the EAB, and thus Peter Hudleston and Sue Treagus will be added. In addition, new people representing a broad spectrum of geographic and research interests will be added to provide us with a range of advice on the Journal and our work. Readers are also likely to note the continuation of the welcome increase of contributions from workers outside of Western Europe and North America.

I look forward to the new challenges such a job brings, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve such a robust international research community by editing JSG.

I thank those of you who have written with their support and thanks; and I hope your feelings will remain the same as we move forward with the Journal. Numerous developments in the techniques and topics of research, such as the increased use of work stations to report and build complex structures; new mechanical and hydro- logic modeling, the integration of structural geology with a vast array of allied disciplines, and the growing use of three-dimensional data will mark an exciting and remarkable time for our profession. As I think regular issues such as this one, as well as upcoming special issues on high-strain shear zones, the emplacement and deformation of plutons, and the 20th anniversary issue will demonstrate, the Journal of Structural Geology will continue and expand in its role as the flagship journal to both the established structural geology and tectonics community, as well as the ‘new breeds’ of practitioners of structural geology.

Jim Evans Logan, UT, U.S.A.

December, 1997